When I was a small boy, I would often receive â€œpearls of wisdomâ€ from my grandmother.

Whilst carrying my skateboard she would often shout out a comment like â€œYouâ€™ll have someoneâ€™s eye out with that!â€

I have never heard of a skateboard/eye related accident in my life, but proceeded with caution nevertheless.

She was after all, older and wiser than me and had probably seen her fair share of skateboard impalements and missing eyes.

Other gems included â€œIf you fall off that wall and break your legs. DONâ€™T come running to me!â€

Again, although impossible, I subconsciously stored it in my memory banks.
The visual image of me stuck under the garden wall like Humpty Dumpty with no means of attracting help would give me nightmares well into my teenage years.

â€œYouâ€™ll get a cold walking about like that!â€ was her particular favourite in mid summer or how about â€œIf you keep pulling faces and the wind changes. Your face will stay like thatâ€.

OR

Did you know that if you lie, a little goblin will come and take your tongue away to the goblin errâ€¦â€¦tongue town?

I’m sure my mother would say all of those things, if only she thought of them. For instance, a recent incident:
She comes over to visit and brings me some pots and pans.
I say: “But mom, I don’t need them and I don’t want to wash them.” (Hey, anything that I can say to minimize the amount of dishwashing I have to do I will do).
Her reply: “But your knee hurts!”
Apparently having excess pots and pans is a cure for knee pain.